a seed that is now an organism for the souls of His children, and whose spring-time is reserved for the Celestial World? Nor are we confined in our conceptions of that spiritual Body by our present experience of organized existences; for there are bodies terrestrial, and bodies celestial, and as much as the glory of the one transcends the glory of the other, may our Resurrection Body transcend the imperfect seed of our Earthly frame. "The glory of the terrestrial is one, and the glory of the celestial is another. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption : it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body." The natural Body is an organism fitted for the development and action of the animal man: the spiritual Body is an organism fitted for the development and action of the spiritual nature; and the spiritual Body holds to the natural Body a relation, which is emblemed by that which the most glorious of Nature's forms bears to the seed from which it springs. V. Lastly, St. Paul explains the Mystery of the change passed upon us by Death. We die,-because Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, and we must all be changed, in order that this corruptible may put on Incorruption, and that this mortal may put on Immortality. Not from our ashes, but from our spirit, should we take the lesson of Death, and seek the interpretation of its mys tery. Not into the grave of the body, but to the home of the soul, should the gaze of a thinking Being be directed; and if we have any Christian Faith, as often as the great change passes on a familiar form, in order that the Mortal may put on Immortality, to us should Death be swallowed up in Victory. Death has no sting but Sin: - the pure, the righteous, the faithful, whatever to themselves may be the passing fear and doubt of nature, in the sight of others are blessed in their death; they fall asleep in Jesus, and are found with God. Sin is the Shadow in the Valley of Death; - take away the fear of a violated Law, and in its place fill the heart with the Love of God as it wrought, and suffered, and freely laid down its life, in Jesus, and we, too, should be ready to lie down in death with Christ, that we might rise and live with him for ever. Thanks be to God who giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, the victory of the Spirit over the Senses, of Faith over Sight, - - - of Love and the filial heart of Duty over the fears of a legal Obedience and a grudging Service! Sons of God, this is the Victory of our filial Faith, — that "God hath not given us a spirit of fear, power, and of love, and of a sound mind! but of "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." THEIR RELIEF: AND ST. PAUL'S VIEWS OF DUTY IN MAT 1 Now concerning the collection for the Saints, as I have given direction to the Churches of Galatia, so do ye also. 2 On the first day of each week let each of you lay by him, storing according as he hath prospered, that there 3 may be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve, I will send them with let4 ters to bear your gift to Jerusalem. And if it be right that I also should go, they shall go with me. with you, that ye 5 Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedo6 nia, for I do pass through Macedonia. And it may be I shall abide with you, and even winter 7 may send me forward, wherever I shall go. For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope to re8 main some time with you, if the Lord permit. But I will 9 remain in Ephesus, until Pentecost. For a great and effectual door is opened to me; and there are many opposers. 1 10 Now if Timothy come, see that he be without fear among you; for he worketh the work of the Lord even 11 as I. Let no one then despise him, but send him forward in peace, that he may come to me; for I wait for him with the brethren. 12 And concerning our brother Apollos, I much entreated him to go to you with the brethren, and it was by no means his wish to go now; but he will go when it is seasonable. 13 Watch ye; stand fast in the faith; acquit ye like men; 14 be strong. Let all your things be done in Love. And I 15 beseech you, brethren, (ye know the household of Stepha nas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have 16 addicted themselves to the service of the saints,) that ye submit yourselves to such, and to every fellow-worker 17 and laborer. I am glad of the coming of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus: for what was deficient on your 18 part they have supplied. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: wherefore acknowledge them as such. 19 The Churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, with the Church that is in their 20 house. All the brethren greet you. Greet one another 21 with a holy kiss. The Salutation by mine own hand, of 22 Paul: If any love not the Lord Jesus, let him be separat23 ed; the Lord is at hand [Anathema, Maran-atha]. The 24 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all, in Christ Jesus! Amen. It is said that the manifestation of a brotherly interest by one Community towards another, a general direction of effectual sympathy toward distant sufferers, is peculiar to Christianity. It dates with the Gospel, and appears there for the first time, as a There new fact in History. There is no parade made of it in the Records, nor any claim of appropriation on this new development of the spirit of Humanity. It appears there as the natural fruit of that spiritual sentiment which connects the Brotherhood of Man with the Universal Father, — and it is left to the philosophical Critic, in some after age, to discover and proclaim, that it is an entirely new phenomenon in the Moral History of Mankind. Such is the unconsciousness in which the Spirit and the Truth of Goodness ever brings forth its fruit, in quietness of heart. Acting from an inward movement, from the growing life of an affection, its noblest deeds are but simple faithfulness to itself; and what appears extraordinary in the eyes of others not stirred by the same sentiment, is but spontaneous and natural to it. The Christian heart, like Christianity itself, ripens its own blessed fruits, but makes no note of how far it differs from the common world. But now, after the fact has been pointed out by the historical philosopher, it is not difficult to perceive how this last and purest development of the spirit of Humanity - an approach on the part of His children to the tenderness and universality of the Providence of God-should be reserved to be the product of the Christian sentiment. Christianity first placed men in spiritual relations to one another. It recognized their identity of Nature, and their one Heavenly Father; and on each child of God necessity was laid to act in God's spirit, - in every man to recognize a Brother, and to unite that brother |